The White House said Tuesday that acquisition of Greenland is a “national security priority” and the use of US military forces to achieve this goal is under consideration.
“President Trump has made clear that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority for the United States and it is vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House This was stated in a statement by press secretary Caroline Leavitt.
“The President and his team are discussing a range of options to achieve this important foreign policy objective, and, of course, the use of U.S. military forces is always an option at the commander in chief's disposal,” the report said.
The White House statement came shortly after major European allies, including Denmark, said joint statement that they “will not cease to defend” the values of Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” they said.
A senior White House official told NBC News that other options being considered include purchasing the territory from Denmark or forming a so-called compact of free association with the island.
The US government has similar agreements with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. These deals include financial assistance in exchange for allowing the US to have security forces there.
The United States has had a military base in Greenland for decades.
President Donald Trump and his team have expressed their desire seize semi-autonomous territory for several months, citing its strategic importance and enormous mineral wealth. The claims have intensified in recent days, with Trump telling NBC News on Monday that he is “very serious” about acquiring the territory.
US NATO allies have begun to take threats more seriously following the events of last weekend. attack on Venezuela and overthrow of its presidentNicolas Maduro.
“The Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO,” the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement.
“Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, together with NATO allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” they added. “The decision on matters relating to Denmark and Greenland belongs to Denmark and Greenland, and to them alone.”
Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, told CNN On Monday, the Trump administration's official position was that “Greenland should be part of the United States.”
Asked if military action was being discussed, Miller replied, “It would not be military action against Greenland.”
“The real question is what right does Denmark have to control Greenland? What are their territorial claims based on?” – he said.
USA signed 1916 agreement declaring that it “would not object to the Danish government extending its political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland” as part of the deal to purchase what is now the US Virgin Islands.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told her country's TV2 on Monday that “if the United States decides to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything will stop.”
